grin-nell



(No Model.) I 3Sheets-Sheet 1.

P. GRINNELL.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER. No. 249,171. Patented Nov. 8, 1881.

u Pcrtns Mlflhcgraphar. Wanhingtou. n. a

(Np Model.) v 3 She e t Sheet 2. 1*.GRINNELL.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

No. 249,171. Patented Nov. 8,1881.

5: IN-VENTQR-i V MML "WITNESSE (No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 3'. I

P. GRINNELL. AUTOMATIC; FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

No. 249,171.. Patented-Nov. 8,1881.

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK GRINNELL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

AUTOMATIC FlRE-EXTlN'G UlSHERr SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,171, dated November 8, 1881.

Application filed AprillB, 1891. (No model.)

against accidental fires, in which pipes are distributed over the building, connected with a Water-supply under pressure, and provided with distributers constructed to beopened by the action of heat one metal fusible: at a low temperature, so that when a fire breaks out the water-supply will be let onto the building and the water thrown on the fire. h

.Theinvention consists in devices by means of which the water is let into the pipes only when one or more of the distributers have been opened by a fire, so that an air pressure less than the water-pressure is maintained in. the system of pipes, and the straining on the pipes is prevented, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

Figure 1 is a perspective yiew ofa building protected by m yim proved system of automatic fire-extinguishers. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, of the main water-supply pipe, the

valve controllingthe water-supply, the stand- .pipe, and the de ice by in'eans of which the water-supply isopened when a fire breaks-out.

Fig. 3is-a fiewfpartly insection; of the main water-supply pipe, the valve controlling the water-supply, a check-valve above the main valve, and the device by means of which the water-supply is opened when a fire breaks out and the alarm isre1eased. Fig. 4. is a view of the water-main, the valve controlling the wa- ,ter-supply, the check-valve and device for op- In the application of automatic fire-extinguishers to buildings it becomes desirable to exclude the water from the system of pipes, as they are liable to leak, and when exposed to cold liable to freeze. In most cases it is desirable, and in some cases necessary, to fill the system with air under pressure, but is difficult to maintain a high air-pressure in the pipes, and when the water-supply is furnished from a high head or is maintained at a high pressure the difficulty to counterbalance this high water-pressure by a higher air-pressure in an extended system of pipes becomes very great. By my present invention this diflicnlty is overcome, and the pressure in the system of pipes may be very much less than the waterpressure.

In the drawings, A is the water-suppl y main. B represents abalanced or other valve constructed to control the water-supply and to be opened automatically by means substantially such as described hereinafter.

O is the rising main. D D are the horizontal mains.

E are the branch pipes, on the ends of which the distributers F F are secured. These distributers areconstructed on any of the various forms which open the water-supply automatically when by a fire the temperature of the room risesbeyond afixed degree.

. G is the air-pump, by which, when the valve B is closed, the air is pumped into the system of pipes until the desired pressure is reached.

,Tocontrol the Water-supply valve, and also to give an alarm in case of fire, the-styzmd-pipe H is connected with the rising man 0, the height of the stand-pipe H5 being such that a column of water in the stand-pipe will counterbalance the pressure of air in the system of pipes. The stand-pipe is therefore filled, or parstand-pipe H is the chamber a, provided with a diaphragm, and connected with thevalve B is the arm, K, on the end of which isthe weight I. The size of the weightl depends on the contially filled, with water. Connected with the means of which it supports the end of the lever and with it the weight I. The upper end bears against the diaphragm of the chamber 1',

and is pressed outward by the pressure of the column of water above the diaphragm.

Supported on a pivot is thebell-crank levern, the longer arm of which is provided withthe adjustable weight 0, and the short arm bears against the upper end of thelever m, pressing against the diaphragm. It, now, the pressure of the air in the system of pipes is equal to a column of water twenty feet high, and the weight 0 will counterbalance a column of water ten feet high, the pressure of air may vary fifty per cent. without affecting the devices. The column of water will sink in the stand-pipe H and rise in the main 0. To show that such a change has taken place the glass water-gage I is attached to the rising main G, ,and as soon as the water is shown above the desired point more air must be pumped into the system of pipes, so as to reestablish the desired pressure. When, however, one or more of the distributcrs are opened, the pressure is at'once released, the water in the stand-pipe H is lowered beyond the limit to which the weight 0 is set, and forces the upper end of the lever m inward and thelower end outward, disengaging the lever 70. The weight Z now descends and opens the valve B, allowing the water to enter the system of pipes and be discharged from the open distributers only on the tire.

To prevent the discharge of water from the stand-pipe H a check-valve, p, is placed into the upper end of the pipe.

Any kind of alarm may be connected with the weight Z to be set in motion. When the weight descends a bell-ringing device may be disengaged, the valye of a steam or air whistle may be opened, or an electric alarm may be operated to make or break a circuit.

Figs. 3 and 4 represent a modification of the system heretofore described, the stand-pipe being dispensed with, and a check-valve, L, placed above or beyond the main valve, so that any desired air-pressure may be maintained in the system beyond the main valve, and to allow of the withdrawing from time to time of any water that may leak through the main valve.

The drip-pipeflM is connected with the main between the valve B and the check-valve L. This drip-pipe may be provided with a valve or cook; or, if small, it may be left open.

N is the device for releasing the alarm. It consists in a diaphragm which, by the pressure of air in the system supports a pin, on

which a button is placed, from which a cord or wire extends to an alarm. A weighted arm or lever is connected with the pin, and when the.

pressurein the system decreases the diaphragm is depressed, the pin withdrawn from the ,button, and the alarm released. 1

By either of the arrangements shown the air-pressure in thesystem of pipes maybe much less than the pressure of the water in the supply-mains.

I do not wish to confine myself to these particular devices shown, as they may be modified or others substituted therefor to gain the same end of maintaining an air-pressure in the system less than the water-pressure in the mains and automatically open the water-supply when one or more of the distributers are opened.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-v

1. The combination, substantially as before set forth, of the water-supply main, the distributing main or mains filled with compressed air at a pressure less than that of the water in the supply-main, a valve for cutting off the water from the distributing-mains, and substantially such means as described for controlling said valve by the air in the distributingmains.

2. The combination, with a system of automatic fire-extinguishers, of the stand-pipe H,

constructed to contain a column of water ar-' ranged to counterbalance the air in the system of pipes, as described.

3. The combination, with the main A, risin main (3, pipes D and E, and distributers F, of the stand-pipe H, valve B, and means, substantially as described, by which the water-o supply is controlled and the air maintained undera pressure less than the water-pressure, as described.

4. The combination, with the system ofpipes, the water-supply pipe, and a valve interposed between the water and the air in the system,

of the air-pump G, the stand-pipe H, and the water-gage I, constructed to maintain airin the system until a fire breaks out and automatically supply the water, as described.

5. In a system for extinguishing fire automatically, the combination, with the water-supply main and the distributing-mains provided with a distributer constructed to open automatically and filled with compressed air of less pressure than the water-pressure, of a valve interposed between the water and the air, as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FREDERICK GRINELL.

Witnesses:

WM. L. 000K, J. A. MILLER, Jr. 

